● What is Blood Stasis?

Blood stasis is a concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where the accumulation of blood within the body is referred to as blood stasis. You may wonder, blood should flow continuously within the blood vessels, so why does it accumulate? This is a good question.① TCM theory suggests that the circulation of blood in the body is easily affected by various causes such as Qi deficiency, Qi stagnation, blood cold, and blood heat, leading to obstruction in the meridians, resulting in poor blood flow and consequently causing stasis.

② In addition, another situation that can lead to blood stasis is “extravasated blood.” Normal blood circulates within the meridians, transporting nutrients throughout the body and removing waste; however, when blood escapes from the meridians and does not follow the meridian pathways, it becomes “waste blood” and cannot perform its intended functions, hence termed “extravasated blood.” When the body is injured, blood flows out of the vessels, leaving the normal flow pathway, resulting in bleeding. If this blood is not expelled in a timely manner, it will lead to stasis.

“Oh, I see. What consequences does blood stasis bring?”● Blood Stasis is the “Root of All Illnesses”

① Pain: “Where there is flow, there is no pain; where there is pain, there is no flow.” When blood is obstructed, and the meridians are blocked, pain will inevitably occur. This pain is mainly sharp and often has a specific location, remaining stable, and tends to worsen at night.② Mass: In TCM, a lump is referred to as “mass” (xia); TCM theory posits that long-term accumulation of blood stasis in the body can form lumps, which are often fixed in position.③ Depression: TCM believes that “the heart is the master of blood,” and “the heart governs the circulation and generation of blood.” Poor blood circulation leads to blood stasis, which originates from the heart’s dysfunction. Individuals with blood stasis often experience low mood and internal depression. Additionally, they may exhibit symptoms such as decreased memory.④ Other common manifestations of blood stasis: easy formation of spots on the face, red veins on the cheeks; frequent bruising that is difficult to resolve; dark purple lips, and a purple or spotted tongue.⑤ From a Western medicine perspective: a significant portion of blood stasis is related to “poor blood circulation,” where blood flow in the vessels is obstructed, easily leading to cardiovascular diseases.“Blood stasis is quite frightening. How can I deal with it?”

● To Eliminate Blood Stasis, Remember These 3 Methods

Blood stasis mainly includes Qi stagnation with blood stasis, Qi deficiency with blood stasis, and cold congealing with blood stasis. Additionally, there are blood stasis due to masses and damp-heat. We will focus on the first three more common types of blood stasis, providing different strategies based on the type.

Qi Stagnation with Blood Stasis

Identification: Qi stagnation leading to blood accumulation is termed Qi stagnation with blood stasis. Qi is invisible and intangible; TCM considers “Qi” to be the driving force that promotes blood flow, distributes nutrients throughout the body, and aids in the digestion of food. If “Qi” is obstructed, blood cannot circulate normally, leading to blood stasis. The main causes of “Qi stagnation” include: ① Emotional distress and depression; ② Indigestion or overeating, leading to food accumulation; ③ Phlegm-damp obstruction, generally caused by a preference for sweet or greasy foods.Treatment: Hawthorn and Brown Sugar Soup

Take 10 hawthorn berries, wash and remove the seeds, then mash them and place them in a pot to boil for about twenty minutes. Add brown sugar to taste, and it is ready for consumption. Hawthorn has good effects in “promoting digestion and relieving stagnation” and “promoting Qi and dispersing stasis,” while brown sugar nourishes and invigorates the blood, effectively alleviating blood stasis caused by Qi stagnation. It is a good remedy for local blood stasis and can be used as an auxiliary treatment for trauma.

Qi Deficiency with Blood Stasis

Identification: Qi deficiency with blood stasis is easy to understand; insufficient “Qi” leads to inadequate driving force for blood circulation. Qi deficiency with blood stasis is essentially blood stasis caused by “deficiency syndrome,” which can be divided into “Yin deficiency” and “Yang deficiency,” both of which can manifest to varying degrees in the deficiency of organs such as the stomach, spleen, and kidneys. Individuals with Qi deficiency and blood stasis often have a slender physique.☆ “Yin deficiency” means insufficient “Yin,” thus “Yang” is relatively dominant; those with “Yin deficiency” mainly exhibit “heat symptoms,” such as heat in the palms and soles, dry mouth, red tongue with thin white coating, thin and rapid pulse, insomnia with night sweats, and increased libido. It is important to note that although “Yin deficiency” presents as “Yang excess,” it is not due to excessive “Yang,” but rather insufficient “Yin.” Therefore, the treatment for “Yin deficiency” should focus on “nourishing Yin” rather than “draining Yang.”☆ Similarly, “Yang deficiency” means insufficient “Yang,” thus “Yin” becomes dominant; those with “Yang deficiency” mainly exhibit “cold symptoms,” such as aversion to cold, cold limbs, pale complexion, weak and deep pulse, loose stools, and decreased libido. Likewise, although “Yang deficiency” presents as “Yin excess,” it is not due to excessive “Yin,” but rather insufficient “Yang.” Therefore, the treatment for “Yang deficiency” should focus on “tonifying Yang.”Treatment: Salvia and Astragalus Tea

Salvia not only nourishes blood but also invigorates blood circulation, while Astragalus is excellent for tonifying Qi. Take 10 grams of Salvia and 15 grams of Astragalus, brew as tea, which can achieve the beneficial effect of “nourishing both Qi and blood,” making it a good remedy for Qi deficiency type blood stasis, commonly used for chest obstruction (i.e., chest pain) caused by Qi deficiency and blood stasis. Additionally, due to its excellent effects in promoting blood circulation and softening blood vessels, it can effectively lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Cold Congealing with Blood Stasis

Identification: We must have a consensus: our blood tends to flow faster at higher temperatures and slower at lower temperatures. Just like rivers flow vigorously in spring and summer; in autumn and winter, due to the cold, the water flow slows down and may freeze. When our blood flow is obstructed due to cold, it leads to stasis. “Cold congealing” is similar to “Yang deficiency,” both presenting as “cold symptoms.” The difference is that the former is a condition of excess, while the latter is a condition of deficiency. Here, “cold symptoms” are caused by “excess Yin,” rather than “insufficient Yang.” “For deficiency, tonify it; for excess, drain it.” Those with cold congealing blood stasis should dispel the cold.Treatment: Soak feet in hot water, drink warm water, and consume warm foods such as lamb.TCM theory states, “heat dispels cold,” so to address cold congealing blood stasis, one should use warming methods to expel the “cold evil” from the body.